This French Life

  • Who’s who in a French family?

    Frnc_tele_0202_2NOW it would be very embarrassing to mix up brothers with sisters, aunts with uncles if you were at a party or dinner.

    So here is the French for family members so that you can work your way around the table whilst sat enjoying a glass of wine.

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  • Fables of Jean de la Fontaine

    POET Jean de la Fontaine is best known for his Fables that many French people can still recite to this day.

    He was born in 1621 in the town of Château-Thierry in Champagne, and never really left behind his love of the countryside.

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  • What SIPPs mean for buying in France

    House1810FROM April next year people will be able to invest in residential property both in the UK and abroad, through their pension funds.

    Under the new rules higher-rate taxpayers will only have to find 60 per cent of the purchase price of a property as the government will meet the remainder through tax relief.

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  • Chatting about blogging

    Frenchlife_square0608_5I KNOW a few people who run a blog-style website to promote their holiday home or business in France.

    If you want to hear a little from myself, and another writer based in Saigon, about using blogs then check out this interview I featured in on The Angel Blog.

    If you have any questions please feel free to drop a note in the comments below.

  • Petrol price guide for France

    Coins1803THE French government has asked oil companies to provide a regular update of average petrol prices, which will be published on the internet.

    The site provides details of prices over a certain period of time as well as in the past week.

    Interestingly it also compares prices in France to the rest of Europe, with the price per litre in the UK coming in at 9cents more expensive.

    Sign up to the free This French Life newsletter… find out more

    UPDATE:
    Petrol price website for France

  • The Limousin region

    Catkins1907_4ONE of the biggest fears anyone has is that their little hideaway village is going to be featured in a newspaper.

    Many people joke that as soon as an article covers an area then you can expect property prices to shoot up, and the Brits to arrive.

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  • Preparing your house for winter

    Dord_prop0701_1_8WITH autumn already here, and winter just around the corner, now is the time to make sure your home in France is ready for the coming months.

    Despite many people heading to France for the sunshine, winters can be particularly hard with plummeting temperatures, heavy downpours and storm force winds.

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  • French fruit and veg

    IF you are on holiday in France then one of the delights has to be a trip to the local market.

    Not only will it be full of sights and sounds, as well as a few characters, you will be able to pick up some lovely fruit and vegetables.

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  • Le soleil s’est couche

    Sunset from Feuilles d’Automne, 1829.
    THE sun set this evening in masses of cloud,
    The storm comes to-morrow, then calm be the night,
    Then the Dawn in her chariot refulgent and proud,
    Then more nights, and still days, steps of Time in his flight.

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  • L’Albatros

    From Les fleurs du Mal, by Charles Baudelaire.
    Souvent, pour s’amuser, les hommes d’équipage
    Prennent des albatros, vastes oiseaux des mers,
    Qui suivent, indolents compagnons de voyage,
    Le navire glissant sur les gouffres amers.

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